Food department misinforms EC on poll code violation

HT Correspondent,
Bathinda

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Updated: Mar 19, 2014 12:58 IST

Taking a note of the HT report on poll code violation in Bathinda on March 11, when a personal assistant (PA) of Bathinda MLA Swaroop Chand Singla was caught on camera distributing wheat under the state’s blue card scheme, the Election Commission had asked the Punjab food and civil supplies department to send its report on distribution of wheat by Akali leaders, with specific reference to Singla's PA Gobind.

The department, in its reply to the commission, has stated that there was no poll code violation in Bathinda on the atta-dal scheme and no Akali by the name of Gobind was found in the constituency distributing wheat.

However, the address of Gobind and pictures taken by HT on that day nail the argument of the department. He resides in Bhangi colony and wheat was distributed from near his house on March 11, far away from the ration depot where beneficiaries queued up for subsidised rations. He is known in the colony as PA to Sarup Chand Singla.

The poll code was openly violated despite state CEO V K Singh in the city on the same day. Even the food department had confirmed to HT that Gobind was assisting them in the distribution of wheat.

Food inspector Davinder Jit Singh said they had distributed wheat to 300 families and Gobind was assisting them in mobilising people toavail their quota of wheat. Pictures taken by HT also showed Gobind thrashing a youth who, he suspected, had informed the media about the distribution of wheat.